Shut-off box



(No Model.)

M. WALKER.

SHUT OFF BOX.

No. 343,933, Patented June 15 1886.

N. PETERS, Pnnwmm m walhingion. tic.

UNITED STATES PATENT UrricE.

MIOIAH WALKER, OF PORT HURON, MICHIGAN.

SHUT-OFF BOX. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,933, dated June 15,1886.

Application filed January 2!). 1886. Serial No. 190,262.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVIIOIAH WALKER, of Port Huron, in-the county of St.Clair and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Shut-Off Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in shut-ofi'boxesfor gas and water valves.

The invention consists in the improved con: struction and arrangement ofthe parts, whereby the box is made extensible and self-adjusting; and itconsists, further, in an improved construction of the cover, all ashereinafter described.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is aperspective of my improved shut-off box as it appears when in use. Fig.2 is avertical central section thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe box-cover,looking at its under side. Fig. 4 is a plan of thesuspension-top ofthe box. Fig. 5isaperspective, detached, of the upperplate of the suspensiontop. Fig. 6 is a detached perspective of thelower plate of the suspension-top.

The shut-off box consists of the two cylindrical sections A and B, whichare of proper diameter and suflicient length to telescope each otherwithin the usual limits of depth to which the valves in gas and watermains or service pipes are usually placed in the ground. The lowersection, A, is provided with an enlargement, 0, arranged to inclosc thetop of the valve and be supported thereon, so that the dirt is excludedfrom the stuffl ng-box and valve-stem, and sufficient room left tooperate the latterin the usual manner from above the ground. I prefer tosupport the lower section of the box upon the top of the valve by givingthe base of the enlargement the requisite shape to form a seat on therounding'top of the valve-case. In this manner the box is firmlysupported, and forms a close but adjustable joint with the valve-case.The upper section, B, of the box is of sufficicntlylarger diameter thanthe lower box to freely slide therein, and at its upper end it isprovided with a spherical flange, D. The flange D is engaged into acorresponding spherical recess, E, at the under side of the (No model.)

suspension-plate F, said recess being made large enough to form auniversal joint between these parts to a degree large enough to allowthe top plate, when in position, to adjust itself to the ordinaryvariations of the surface of the ground.

To permit the engagement of the spherical flange D into its recess, thesuspension-plate is made in two parts, secured together after theengagement is made. v

In the drawings, G shows a plate bolted into a recess on the under sideof the plate F, both plates having spherical flanges H I, which formbetween them the required spherical recess.

M M are two lugs on the plate F, projecting within the opening thereinupon opposite sides thereof. The outer rim of the plate F is inclined orrounded, so as to form 110 obstruction and allow wheels to pass over itwithout striking the edge. In the center this plate is provided with anopening closed with a removable cover, J. The cover J has upon its underside two spiral flanges, K, and upon its top face it is provided with asocket or recess, L. When the cover is properly in place, the lugs Mengage into the intervals between the spiral flanges, and if, by meansof a suitable tool engaged into the recess L, the cover is turned on itsaxis in the proper direction, the spiral flanges will ride up on thelugs and lift the cover sufficiently from its seat 'to allow itsremoval.

It will be seen that with the parts constructed and arranged as shownand described, the suspension-plate F holding the. upper section of thebox in position while it rests itself on the ground, the box is madeself-adjusting-- that is to say, its upper end is always kept at thelevel ,of the ground, no matter how the latter may sink away or belifted up by frost or otherwise. The plate F is also self-adjusting touneven groundthat is, it will always lie close to it at any angle orincline usually found in streets-and having its edge rounded offbesides, will never form a stumbling-block for horses or pedestrians, ordamage the wheels of vehicles, as is the case with shut-off boxes inpresent use, which, although provided with means of adjustment, are notself-adjusting.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, with thestationarypart A, of the part B, telescoping the same and provided with sphericalflange D, and a plate, F,

re bolted to said plate F, and having spherical flange I, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

3. In a shut-off box having an upper extension suspended from a platesupported by the i5 ground, the combination of the spherical flangeformed on the upper end of the extension, and .of a correspondingspherical recess on the under side of the plate, substantially as andfor the purposes described.

4. In a shut-off box, the combination of the plates F G, securedtogether and provided with the spherical flanges H I, arranged to formthe spherical seatE, and the pipe B, having spherical flange D,substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a shut-off box, in combination, the stationary section A of thebox, the extension B,- telescoping the stationary section, the sphericalflange D of the extension, the ground-plate F, the sperical recess E onthe ground-plate engaging With the spherical flange D, and the removablecover J, seated in an opening in the ground-plate, all arranged andoperating substantially as described.

MIOIAH WALKER.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, E. J. SoULLY.

